SPRINGFIELD – Last week, community members had a chance to immerse themselves in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) cultures at Guy Lee Elementary School in Springfield, during the fourth annual Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration.
The playground and cafeteria transformed into a cultural experience for hundreds of kids, families, and everyone else visiting the school. Strings of red paper lanterns decorated the fencing outside and were strung from the ceiling inside. Folks could get their faces painted, practice calligraphy, make paper lanterns, Hawaiian Leis, and clay dumplings, take photos with a photo drop, and ride in a bike rodeo.
An ILLUMINATION exhibit was on display, intentionally centering the stories and experiences of those who have been historically marginalized and are currently underrepresented. Information about immersion schools, the Oregon Multigenerational Community Center, Adventure! Children’s Museum, and Comunidad y Herencia Cultural were also available.
“We’re proud to once again host this celebration of culture, community, and connection,” said Guy Lee Elementary School principal Josh Donaldson. “We’re very grateful for our community partners who continue to support this.”
The event was supported in part by the Heritage Arts Grant from the Springfield Arts Commission. Because of community partnerships with the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts (MECCA) and BRING Recycling, people could help create a sculpture.
BRING Recycling provided a template of fire-shaped ornaments that folks could decorate and place on a metal horse sculpture.
“They write their name, their designs, hopes, aspirations, or dreams,” said Adam Gutierrez, an Athletic Coordinator at Willamalane Park and Recreation District and a volunteer at the event.
He explained that the sculpture is in the shape of a horse, with fire ornaments adorning it, because it is the Year of the Fire Horse, according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The finished sculpture will be on display in City Hall in the coming weeks.
The blacktop outside served as a food truck hub with AANHPI foods like Bobablastic, OG Poke, Kona Ice, T-Swirl, Taste of India, Kento, Jing Jing’s Filipino food, and Royal Samoan BBQ. Free popcorn, a water station, and candy were also available at some vendor booths, both inside and out.
Performances took place on two stages with singing, dancing, and fitness groups. Japanese Koto started inside while Hawaiian Reggae played outside. Other shows included Waka Daiko, Hula Halau ‘O Ke Alaula, classical Indian music, and the Philippine Association Tinikling Dancers.
Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon read a proclamation that asserted May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
“On behalf of the City of Springfield, I want to thank the Guy Lee School and PTO for all the work they’ve done on this event. It is something that’s really special in this neighborhood, and I’m so glad to be a part of it and have everybody here,” VanGordon said.
